Liquid sanitation device and method

ABSTRACT

A method for a water bottle comprising, coupling a cap to bottle housing such that an interior of the water bottle and the cap form a water-tight region, receiving a button push on the cap, determining with a light sensor whether visible light is present in a vicinity of a UV LED light source disposed within the cap, in response to the push of the button, initiating providing with a UV LED light source UV light to the interior in response to the push of the button and in response to absence of the visible light within the vicinity of the UV LED light source, and inhibiting providing with the UV light to the interior after a period of time after the initiating providing UV light to the interior or in response to determining the visible light being present in the vicinity of the UV LED light source.

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent ApplicationNo. 62/583,447, filed Nov. 8, 2017 and is incorporated herein in itsentirety for all purposes.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the field of sanitation of liquids in ahand-held portable bottle. The inventors of the present invention havebeen concerned with the proliferation of disposable bottles, e.g. singleserve water bottles, in the environment. The Chinese people are becominghealthier and turning away from sodas, the consumption of water hasgreatly increased. This increase in consumption, unfortunately has beenassociated with an increase in the number of disposable water bottlesthat are being used and thrown away. Although plastic recycling capturesa portion of the disposed bottles, a large amount of these bottles worktheir way to forests, watersheds, and other environmentally sensitiveareas.

A solution to reduce the amount of waste has been the use of refillablewater bottles made of plastics, stainless steel, glass, or the like. Intypical use, the inventors have discovered that many users do not cleantheir water bottles between uses and use them for weeks withoutcleaning. One reason for this is that it is almost impossible to scrubthe interior of such bottles without the use of special brushes. Anotherreason for this lack of hygiene has typically been that users believethat since the bottle only stores water, the bottle will not becontaminated. The inventors have run multiple experiments to prove thatthis belief is incorrect, and the inventors have proven that theinterior of such bottles can incubate bacteria from the users' mouths orfrom the water quite effectively. After a week of use, the amount ofbacteria or other pathogens in the water and water bottles can be quiteunhealthy. In light of the above, what is desired are methods anddevices for storing liquids without the drawbacks discussed above.

SUMMARY

The present invention relates to the field of sanitation of liquids in ahand-held portable bottle. According to one aspect of the invention, aportable hand-held device configured to store liquids is disclosedincluding a liquid storage portion comprising an exterior surface and aninterior surface, wherein a user is configured to contact the exteriorsurface during user consumption, wherein the interior surface forms awater-tight region configured to store liquids, and a materialconfigured to reflect ultraviolet light. A device may include a capcoupled to the liquid storage portion for releasably sealing thewater-tight region. A cap may include: a power source for providingoperating power, a UV light source coupled to the power source and forselectively proving UV light, wherein the UV light source is disposedwithin the cap such that the UV light is directed to the water-tightregion when the cap seals the water-tight region, a light sensor coupledto the power source within the cap such that ambient light, if any,within the vicinity of the UV light source upon the cap can be sensed,wherein the light sensor is for determining a light condition when theambient light is sensed and for providing a dark condition when theambient light is not sensed, a button coupled to the power source,wherein the button is for receiving a user selection, a processorcoupled to the power source, the UV light source, to the light sensorand to the button, wherein the processor is for selectively directingthe UV light source to provide the UV light in response to the darkcondition and the user selection.

According to another aspect of the invention, a method for a portablehand-held device configured to store liquids is described. A techniqueincludes disposing water in an interior storage region of a housing,comprising a material for reflecting ultraviolet light, coupling a capto the housing such that the interior storage region and the cap form awater-tight region, receiving a push of a button disposed upon the capby a user, determining with a light sensor whether visible light, ifany, is present in a vicinity of a UV light source disposed within thecap, in response to the push of the button. A process includesinitiating providing with a UV light source UV light to the water-tightregion in response to the push of the button and in response todetermining absence of the visible light being present in the vicinityof the UV light source, and inhibiting providing with the UV lightsource the UV light to the water-tight region after a period of timeafter the initiating providing UV light to the water-tight region or inresponse to determining the visible light being present in the vicinityof the UV light source.

According to another aspect of the invention, a portable hand-helddevice configured to store liquids is disclosed. One device includes aliquid storage portion comprising an exterior surface and an interiorsurface, wherein a user is configured to contact the exterior surfaceduring consumption of the liquids, wherein the interior surface forms awater-tight region configured to store liquids, and a cap coupled to theliquid storage portion, wherein the cap is configured to releasably sealthe water-tight region. In some embodiments, the device includes anidentifier configured to allow a separate external apparatus to identifythe device, wherein the unique indicator is selected from a groupconsisting of: optical identifier (a 1D or 2D bar code, QR code,holographic tag), an NFC tag, and short range rf identifier and awireless identification tag.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In order to more fully understand the present invention, reference ismade to the drawings. These drawings are not to be consideredlimitations in the scope of the invention, the presently describedembodiments and the presently understood best mode of the invention aredescribed with additional detail through use of the accompanyingdrawings in which:

FIGS. 1-3 illustrates external views of embodiments of the presentinvention.

FIG. 4 illustrates a cross-section diagram according to variousembodiments.

FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate various embodiments of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIGS. 1-3 illustrate external views of an embodiment of a water bottle100 according to embodiments of the present invention. In FIGS. 1-3,water bottle typically includes an insulated bottom portion 120 and acap portion 130. Insulated bottom portion 120 typically includes anexternal housing wall 135 (for the user to hold); an interior wall (forstorage of the liquid); and an insulating region (e.g. vacuum,fiberglass, Styrofoam, etc.) between the walls. Typical materials forexternal housing wall 135 and interior wall includes UV reflectivematerials, such as stainless steel, aluminum, or the like. In variousembodiments external housing wall 135 may be painted, coated, anodized,or the like.

In some embodiment, cap portion 130 includes a ring-like illuminationregion 160, a user pushable button 170, and a port 180. Region 160 alongwith one or more LEDs 165 can be used to visually indicate to a user thestatus of a UV illumination process by combinations of color, colorpatterns, and intensity. In some examples, illumination patterns mayinclude a chase, heartbeat, blinking or steady; color may indicatestatus, e.g. blue for UV illumination, completion with green color,interruption of the process with red color, low power with yellow, andthe like. In various embodiments, port 180 may be a micro USB port,USB-C port or any other type of port for charging of a power source 220within cap portion 130, and/or for communicating with processor 230 andmemory 240 components disposed within cap portion 130. In variousembodiments, button 170 is disposed beneath a flexible material 175,e.g. rubber, silicone, or the like, and the material 175 is deformedwhen the user pushes button 170 and returns to its original statethereafter. In other embodiments, a wireless charging interface may beprovided, such as a Qi charging interface, and others.

FIG. 4 illustrates a cross-section 110 of a portion of water bottle 100according to various embodiments. In various embodiments, cap portion130 includes a power source 220, processor or controller 230, and amemory 240 mounted upon a printed circuit board (flexible or rigid) 250.Additionally, cap portion 130 includes a UV-LED module 190, a thermistor200, and a photo sensor 210. In some embodiments, these components maybe mounted on a rigid or flexible printed circuit board 270, or thelike. The components described herein for cap portion 130 may be coupledby one or more communication and power busses.

In various embodiments, UV-LED module 190 is configured to provide UVillumination within the UV-C band. UV-LEDs provided by the assignee ofthe present invention may be used in some embodiments. UV-LED module 190typically includes a UV-LED 290 disposed within or behind a non-toxic UVtransparent media 280, e.g. sapphire, fused glass, Zinc selenide (ZnSe),calcium fluoride (CaF2), lithium fluoride (LiF), magnesium fluoride(MgF2), quartz, or the like. As can be seen, UV light projects downwardsinto the liquid storage region.

In various embodiments, thermistor 200 is disposed near UV-LED module190 and is used to determine a temperature near the UV-LED module 190 atthe bottom surface of cap portion 130. The temperature can be used todetermine whether UV-LED module 190 is operating below a preset maximumtemperature. Photo sensor 210 is provided for detection of ambientlight. In operation, if light strikes photo sensor 210, it can beassumed that cap portion 130 is unscrewed or unsecured relative tobottom portion 120. In such a case, it may be unsafe to active UV-LEDmodule 190 and to output UV light. Accordingly, in some embodiments,when photo sensor 210 does not detect light then UV-LED module 190 mayoutput UV light (under direction of the processor 230). In someembodiments, photo sensor 210 will not sense light when UV-LED module190 outputs UV light, due to the inclusion of a UV blocking window 280in front of photo sensor 210. As illustrated in FIG. 4, bumps 295 may beplaced upon the bottom of cap portion 130 to protect damage totransparent media 280 when cap portion 130 is placed on a surface, e.g.table. In various embodiments, cap 130 is water tight.

Concepts disclosed by embodiments of the present invention include:Methods: using a photo-electrical method to detect light that ensures noenvironmental light is present to trigger UV light disinfection in aclosed enclosure. Devices: the bottle cap with photo sensor (e.g.photodiode) enclosed in a non-transparent bottle vessel or in a UVClight absorbing plastic.

FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate various embodiments of the present invention.FIG. 5 illustrates an isometric view of a pitcher 500 and FIG. 6illustrates a cross-section view of pitcher 500. A pitcher 500 isillustrated including a cap 510 and a module 520. In variousembodiments, pitcher 500 may use a transparent or translucent materialthat is capable of blocking UV light; and cap portion 510 and module 520may be formed with UV light blocking opaque material. As illustrated,pitcher 500 may have in input reservoir 560 and an output reservoir 570,and module 520 includes a series of holes 580 that allows transport ofwater, or other liquid from input reservoir 560 to output reservoir 570.In various embodiments, module 520 treats liquids passing therethroughwith a chemical/particulate filter and UV light. Module 520 may alsotreat liquid within output reservoir 570 with UV light. In variousembodiments, a one-way valve 585 (e.g. flap, ball valve, etc.) may beincluded on module 520 allowing water or liquid from output reservoir570 to be poured out by the user.

In various embodiments, module 520 includes central portion 530 includeselectrical components similar to those illustrated in FIG. 4, includinga power supply, processor, memory, MEMS accelerometer, wirelesscommunication, and the like; perimeter portion 540 includes a regionwhere filtering materials (e.g. active carbon, and the like) may beenclosed; and bottom portion 550 includes one or more UV LEDs, similarto LED module 190, as illustrated in the embodiments in FIG. 4. Invarious embodiments, it is contemplated that module 520 may be removedfrom pitcher 500 for charging the power supply in central portion 530,for changing the filtering materials within perimeter portion 540, oreven for replacement. Alternatively, module 520 may be disposed (i.e.thrown away), and a fresh module may be placed within pitcher 500.

In one example operation, a user fills input reservoir 560 with water;water is passed through module 520, which filters-out chemical andparticulate matters; and the water is passed into output reservoir 570.Periodically, UV LEDs in module 520 are directed to output UV lightwithin module 520, to inhibit growth of bacteria, or other biologicalmaterials within the filtering material. Additionally, periodically(e.g. 1 minute every 1, 2, etc. hours) UV light may be directed to waterstored within output reservoir 570 also to inhibit biologicalcontamination of the water. In some embodiments, as a safety measure,one or more positional sensors may be used within module 520 relative topitcher 500. In some embodiments, UV light will not be output from UVLEDs unless the positional sensors indicate proper positioning of module520 within pitcher 500. In some embodiments, the positional sensors mayinclude a tab extending from the wall of pitcher 500 which is sensed byan optical sensor within module 520, or the like.

According to various embodiments, concepts disclosed by embodiments ofthe present invention include methods and apparatus: Using a UV lightsource as part of a filter cartridge where the water is being filter andUV disinfected; Using a UV light source w/battery and rechargeelectronics as part of a filter cartridge; Using a UV light source aspart of a filter cartridge where the UV light keeps the filtered waterclean and bacteria free; Using a UV light source as part of a filtercartridge where UV light is used in combo with a sensor to measure thewater flow volume thru a filter as a “tracker” and counter for changingthe filter medium. Other embodiments may include: using aWi-Fi/Bluetooth for tracking hydration and or paring with other devices;using a replaceable filter media pouch bags that excludes a hard-plasticshell; Using a water pitch that does not have a hopper as traditionalpitcher does (Brita like). The filter has two modes: one mode to letwater go thru via gravity, the other mode to let filtered water pour out(e.g. a ball valve or 45 degree turn to let water flow in/out).

In various embodiments, designs for a water pitcher are contemplated.Design embodiments includes the shape of the plastic or glass(translucent) water pitcher (with or without the cap), wherein thediameter of the top portion 560 is substantially the same as thediameter of bottom portion 570, and the sidewalls may be approximatelycylindrical and perpendicular to a bottom. In some embodiments, thetapering of the pitcher may or may not be symmetric as it approachesmodule 520. Further the curved bottom may or may not be part of thedesign. The contour lines may or may not be part of the design invarious embodiments. Other separate or additional design embodiments tothe above embodiments is the shape of module 520, as shown, having acurved and tapered upper portion or a tapered then curved bottomportion, or both. The module 520 may have an overall circular shape witha top surface with circular holes, square holes, or other shape holes580. Other separate or additional design embodiments to the aboveembodiments includes a cap having a downward sloping curved portion anda curved convex region.

Embodiments of the present invention may include external communicationmechanisms (e.g. 300), such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC, 2D Barcodes, QRcode, Zig-Bee, and the like, (e.g. 195) as described below. In someembodiments, a liquid dispensing terminal may first communicate with theliquid storage device, e.g. laser scan, rf excitation, or the like.Next, in such embodiments, the liquid storage device may identify itselfto the dispensing terminal. For example, a barcode may be read by theliquid dispensing terminal, a responsive rf signal may be provided tothe liquid dispensing terminal, and the like to determine a bottleidentifier. In some embodiments, the user may scan or swipe a card orthe user may type a password or use biometric data to provide anidentifier to the liquid dispensing terminal.

The liquid dispensing terminal may then determine what type of waterservice is associated with the bottle identifier (e.g. user water-typeservice subscription, water-service provider, etc.). Subsequently, inresponse to the identification and/or the service level subscribed, thedispensing terminal may dispense specific liquids. For example, adispensing terminal may dispense Evian water or Fiji water, dependingupon the identification provided by the device. Thus, a user of thestorage device may subscribe to Fiji water, thus at an airport, whenthey refill their bottle, Fiji water is automatically provided. Tonon-subscribers, regular filtered tap water may be provided.

In other embodiments, the bottle can use Wi-Fi to pair with a hydrationrefill station (think of the water fountain you see in airports) whereit offers “branded” premium water, e.g. Evian, where the owner of theliquid storage device or bottle gets two years of free refill of suchbranded premium water, after purchase of the liquid storage device (e.g.Evian-branded water bottle). After two years, this may become a monthlysubscription model where the user of Evian-branded bottle can refillwith Evian for a monthly fee. In some embodiments, branded water bottlesmay be given away for free, and the hydration refill stations andsystems may provide premium water for the first 90 days. After that,premium water can be provided based upon a water subscription (e.g. $10per month), a pay-per-use model (e.g. $2 to fill-up), or the like. Inother embodiments, user preferences may be incorporated with thedispensing of the water. For example, a first user's water-subscriptionmay specify a lemon essence is to be added to water, whereas a seconduser's water-subscription may specify a specific temperature water (e.g.boiling, room temperature, chilled), and the like.

Embodiments of the present invention now enable premium bottled waterbrands to reduce plastic pollution by enabling users to obtain premiumbottled water. In various embodiments, hydration fill stations mayinclude one or more stainless steel storage containers that store thepremium water brands. When nearly empty, such hydration fill stationsmay wirelessly communicate with the premium water distributor (e.g. ofFiji, etc.) and indicate that a refill is necessary. Such embodimentsare beneficial as they reduce the amount of plastic and packaging waste,reduce the amount of delivery locations for the water, and the like.This may also help better forecast shipping water globally since the endterminal consumption points are now connected with data (their tanks).In some embodiments, UV LEDs are provided in the stainless-steel tanksto keep the premium water in such locations for as long as needed untilthey are consumed.

In other embodiments, combinations or sub-combinations of the abovedisclosed invention can be advantageously made. For example, in variousembodiments, thermistor 200 determines a temperature near the UV-LEDmodule 190 at the bottom surface of cap portion 230. It should beunderstood that the temperature of the liquid or water can affect thetemperature reading of thermistor 200. For example, if ice water isstored, the temperature measured may reflect the temperature of the icewater, as heat produced by UV-LED module 190 is highly dissipated,cooled, by the ice water. Conversely, if boiling water is stored, thetemperature measured may reflect the temperature of the boiling water,or higher, as it is more difficult to dissipate the heat produced byUV-LED module 190 into the boiling water. In various embodiments, whenthe temperature exceeds a threshold temperature, power to UV-LED module190 may be shut off. Accordingly, it is more likely that power may beshut off from UV-LED module 190 when hot liquids are stored compared towhen cooler liquids are stored. The water temperature can thus beinferred by the readings from thermistor 200.

In other embodiments, additional functionality may be provided. Forexample, embodiments may include additional modules 310 that embody: apositional sensor (already described herein) e.g. a MEMS accelerometer;a wireless communication module (already described herein), e.g. NFC,Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, etc.; an audio output device (e.g. piezo electric,speaker); and the like. In light of the present patent disclosure, oneof ordinary skill in the art will recognize additional functionality maybe added to the embodiments described herein.

The specification and drawings are, accordingly, to be regarded in anillustrative rather than a restrictive sense. It will, however, beevident that various modifications and changes may be made thereuntowithout departing from the broader spirit and scope of the invention asset forth in the claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A portable hand-held device configured to storeliquids comprising: a liquid storage portion comprising an exteriorsurface and an interior surface, wherein the interior surface forms awater-tight region configured to store liquids, and wherein the interiorsurface comprises a material configured to reflect ultraviolet light;and a cap coupled to the liquid storage portion, wherein the cap isconfigured to releasably seal the water-tight region, wherein the capcomprises: a power source configured to provide operating power; a UVLED light source coupled to the power source and configured toselectively provide UV light, wherein the UV LED light source isproximal to the cap such that the UV light is directed to thewater-tight region when the cap seals the water-tight region; a buttoncoupled to the power source, wherein the button is configured to receivea user selection; a processor coupled to the power source, the UV LEDlight source and to the button, wherein the processor is configured todirect the UV LED light source to provide the UV light in response tothe user selection.
 2. The device of claim 1 wherein the cap furthercomprises a position sensor coupled to the power source and theprocessor, wherein the position sensor is configured to determine a safeorientation of the cap; wherein the processor is configured to determinean indicator signal periodically; and wherein the processor is alsoconfigured to direct the UV LED light source to provide the UV light inresponse to the safe orientation of the cap and to the indicator signal.3. The device of claim 1 further comprising a light sensor coupled tothe power source, wherein the cap further comprises a window thatabsorbs a majority of the UV light; wherein the light sensor isconfigured to sense visible light; and wherein the light sensor isdisposed behind the window in the cap such that the majority of the UVlight does not reach the light sensor.
 4. The device of claim 1 whereinthe cap further comprises: a visual indicator ring disposed upon a topportion of the cap, wherein the visual indicator ring is coupled to thepower source and to the processor, wherein the visual indicator ring isconfigured to provide user-viewable illumination when the UV LED lightsource provides the UV light to the water-tight region.
 5. The device ofclaim 4 wherein the visual indicator ring provides output of a firstcolor illumination when the UV LED light source provides the UV light tothe water-tight region; and wherein the visual indicator ring providesoutput of a second color illumination when the UV LED light sourcefinishes providing the UV light to the water-tight region.
 6. The deviceof claim 1 wherein the cap further comprises a thermistor coupled to thepower source, wherein the thermistor is configured to determine atemperature associated the cap.
 7. The device of claim 1 furthercomprising an identifier configured to allow a separate externalapparatus to identify a user associated with the device, wherein theunique indicator is selected from a group consisting of: opticalidentifier, a bar code, a ID bar code, a 2D bar code, a QR code and aholographic tag.
 8. The device of claim 1 further comprising anidentifier configured to allow a separate external apparatus to identifya user associated with the device, wherein the unique indicator isselected from a group consisting of: an rf tag, a FC1 tag, a short rangerf identifier and a wireless identification tag.
 9. (canceled) 10.(canceled)
 11. The device of claim 1 further comprising a light sensorcoupled to the power source, wherein the light sensor is proximal to thecap such that ambient light, if any, within a vicinity of the UV LEDlight source is sensed, wherein the light sensor is configured toprovide a light condition when the ambient light is sensed by the lightsensor, and wherein the light sensor is configured to provide a darkcondition when the ambient light is not sensed by the light sensor; and,wherein the processor is further configured to direct the UV LED lightsource to provide the UV light in response to the dark condition. 12.(canceled)
 13. (canceled)
 14. (canceled)
 15. (canceled)
 16. (canceled)17. (canceled)
 18. A portable hand-held device configured to storeliquid comprising: a liquid storage portion comprising a top portion anda bottom portion, wherein the liquid storage portion comprises a UVblocking material; an insert proximal to the top portion and the bottomportion, wherein the insert is coupled with: a power source configuredto provide operating power; a UV LED light source coupled to the powersource and configured to selectively provide UV light, wherein the UVLED light source is configured to provide UV light toward the bottomportion; a processor coupled to the power source, the UV LED lightsource, wherein the processor is configured to periodically direct theUV LED light source to the bottom portion to sanitize the liquid storedin the bottom portion; a filter region configured to receive a filterbag that is configured to filter particulate contamination of the liquidpassing therethrough; and wherein the liquid passes from the top portionthrough the insert to the bottom portion in response to gravity.
 19. Thedevice of claim 18 wherein the UV LED light source is also configured toprovide the UV light to the filter region to sanitize the filter bag.20. (canceled)
 21. The device of claim 18 wherein said insert comprisessaid power source, said UV LED light source, said processor, said filterregion configured to receive said filter bag.
 22. The device of claim 18wherein said insert comprises said filter region configured to receivesaid filter bag.